Fugitives

Reduced to a small, wounded band of outlaws, the survivors of the Band of the Falcon shelter in a hidden camp under Casca's command, their numbers now barely a fraction of the army they once were. Judeau brings the drained commander a meal and passes along word gathered by a scouting party sent into Wyndham: Griffith sits confined in a decaying dungeon far below the city, and for weeks his cell leaked cries of agony, though the sounds have lately fallen silent. Overwhelmed, Casca breaks down over her food before she can eat a bite.

Gathered with Rickert, Pippin, and Corkus, Judeau confirms the group means to free Griffith and rebuild around him, crediting Casca's leadership for keeping them alive. Corkus voices open doubt that Griffith still breathes and calls the band finished, refusing to explain why he never fled. When a sentry drops to a razor-edged ring flung from the dark, Silat and his hired fighters attack, eager to measure themselves against the Falcon's legend. Casca rouses at once and rallies the mercenaries, then squares off with Silat, but fatigue and his strange technique leave her only able to retreat until he pins her.

Silat demands she yield and disband her fighters or die, and Casca answers with silence. Before he can finish her, a kick to the skull hurls him aside, and the stunned survivors look up to find Guts back among them. He tells his old commander not to fall to a traveling showman and to get on her feet. The chapter marks Guts' return to the band after his year away and sets up his duel with Silat.